Four American tourists were among the six victims of a catastrophic explosion in Greece. This tragic event occurred in a residential building near the Acropolis, a famous landmark in Athens.
Details of the Incident
The Americans consisted of two men and two women, believed to be two couples. They were residing in the historic Plaka district, a well-visited area near the Acropolis, when the explosion took place on Friday.
According to a police source, these couples were due to take a flight from Athens airport at 3 p.m. but failed to appear. Their identification, as well as belongings found at the site, confirmed their U.S. citizenship, noted by Greek state broadcaster ERT and other local media.
Reactions and Rescue Operations
U.S. Ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, expressed her sorrow regarding this loss via a post on social media. Emergency crews discovered six bodies from the ruins of the building during their search on Saturday.
The rescue operation was complex, involving efforts to locate an elderly couple and four tourists in the debris. Vassilis Vathrakogiannis, a fire brigade spokesman, provided updates in a televised briefing.
Cause and Aftermath
The explosion is suspected to have resulted from a significant gas leak, as stated by Athens Mayor Haris Doukas. Reports indicated a smell of gas in the vicinity before the event, prompting an investigation into the cause.
The impact damaged surrounding buildings, vehicles, and scattered debris as far as three blocks. Images from the site showed the destruction, with shattered glass and rubble strewn across streets.
Injuries and Ongoing Effects
Two women sustained injuries in a nearby building on Lysikratous Street. Andreas Martzaklis, a local resident, mentioned that all those rescued were tourists residing in the adjacent property.
Additional damages reached a nearby church, prompting a change in Sunday services to an outdoor setting due to the structural harm from the explosion.